The singing love warrior

Her real name was once Nika Belardo but she now goes by the monicker of Gabriela. Why Gabriela? The name comes from the Filipino hero Gabriela Silang, Diego Silang’s wife, who fought against the Spaniards during the Philippine revolution. That Gabriela proved herself a great warrior and is now honored by Filipinos as such. This new Gabriela is indeed built like a very attractive amazon but she is leading no uprising. What she wants to be and what she wants to stand for is a woman who fights for love. Hence the name Gabriela, for the Singing Love Warrior.

As Nika, Gabriela was a rock singer patterned along the lines of Sampaguita. She still sounds like the raspy, powerful voiced rocker she was some years ago, but this time around she sings love ballads with a strong rock influence. Think of jukebox queens of the likes of Imelda Papin or Eva Eugenio singing with a rock band. Then throw in a little each of Rod Stewart, Bonnie Tyler and the Scorpions to spice things up a bit and you will get the new Gabriela. The resulting mix is very interesting.

Gabriela’s self-titled album is another production by Vehnee Saturno, who also produced her first album as Nika Belardo. This is the same songwriter and producer who has also worked with Nora Aunor, Jaya, Donna Cruz, Ella May Saison and other top female talents. This time around though, what Vehnee puts forth is not his experience with our local divas but as producer of the successful group Rockstar. Most of the songs are the torchy ballads that Vehnee is famous for about loving and losing and loving obsessively again. Because of Nika’s style though, these songs now have a new rock spin.

A most appealing cover of the Rockstar triple Platinum seller Mahal Pa Rin Kita opens the album. The song shows every sign of becoming a hit once again and augurs well for Gabriela’s career. Take special note too of another one of the album’s cover cuts. This is the Danny Subido composition Di Ako Iiyak, an oldie that was also recorded by the now completely retired Sussana Pichay plus other female singers. The song has suddenly taken on a new identity thanks of course to the new arrangement and Gabriela’s rock style.

The first single out is Natatawa Ako, which was also written by Vehnee. Set for release soon is her second try at the charts, Binago Mo. The other songs included in the album are Pinaikot Mo Lang Ako, Baliw, May Mahal Na Ako, Ika’y Mahal Pa Rin which I believe was also a hit for Rockstar, Bakit Kailangan, which are all Vehnee Saturno songs and the soulful Please Forgive Me, which was originally recorded by Bryan Adams.

Gabriela never thought that she would end up with a singing career, much less, a singer of rock songs. She was more of a dancer and did not think she could carry a tune. Thanks to the encouragement of family and friends though, she learned how to sing through constant practice and it wasn’t long before she was frequenting karaoke bars and performing requests from the audience. As a result, Gabriela believes that although she records rock tunes, what she really is, is an interpreter of what the public wants. Name the song and she will sing it and because of her wide vocal range, her repertoire covers hits by both male and female artists.

Meanwhile, here are the songs most music lovers in town are listening to these days. All the Love in the World by The Corrs; Rock My World the latest after five years by Michael Jackson, Superman by Five for Fighting; Deep by Binocular; All Or Nothing by the boy group O-Town; Smooth Criminal by Alien Ant Farm; Crush by Mandy Moore; Take My Breath Away by Spice Girl Emma Bunton on her first solo outing; and Never Too Far Away from the soundtrack of the motion picture Glitter by Mariah Carey.

New releases to watch out for in the local hit charts are Umaaraw, Umuulan from the new album by Rivermaya, Be Like That from the American Pie 2 soundtrack by 3 Doors Down, I’m Real by Jennifer Lopez, I Wanna Be Bad from new R&B dance artist Willa Ford and Crush by the 3 G’s from the soundtrack album of The Princess Diaries.